Machine for operating on shoes



7, 1939. c. e. BROSTROM 21758556 MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SEOES Filed Sept. 29, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l III Nov. 7, 1939. c, G j s-f M 2,178,556

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SHOES Filed Sept, 29, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //v VE/V Tm? 65M *5. aw/arr.

Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNlTE s'rArs PATENT OFFECE Charles G. Brostrom, Salem, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation,

Bor-

ough of Fiernington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 29, 1937, Serial No. 166,355

17 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for operating on shoes and is herein illustrated and described as embodied in a channel laying machine. The illustrated machine represents an improvement upon the machine described in United States Letters Patent No. 2,087,241, granted July 20, 1937 upon the application of Darius W. Bunker and like that machine is also capable of performing such operations as sole leveling, bottom pounding, side lasting and Wiping, and perfecting the feather line of shoe bottoms. The operating instrumentalities of both machines comprises a belt adapted to perform a rubbing, wiping, ironing, leveling or beating action upon shoes or on parts which are to be incorporated in shoes. The work is held against this belt under pressure and the belt being flexible conforms to the contour of that portion of the work-piece which it engages. However, in some cases the pressure requisite to perform the desired operation not only may unduly strain the belt and result in excessive wear or breakage, but it may also cause the belt to yield excessively as the work-piece is pressed into it and thus to engage undesired portions of the surface of the work-piece.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine of the character under consideration which will be free from the above-mentioned disadvantage. In accordance with a feature of the invention the illustrated machine is provided with a flexible backing for supporting the belt against the pressure of the work. This backing member in the illustrated machine comprises a chain supported at both ends and free to flex between its ends. This chain may be provided with antifriction rolls having guide flanges for the belt. In the illustrated construction one of the supports for the ends of the belt may yield to a limited extent to enable the chain to flex. However, an adjustable stop is provided to limit such yielding. The chain thus affords a positive backing against which the belt may be pressed with any desired amount of force without increasing either the tension or the flexure of the belt. The flexure permitted by the adjustment of the chain support will be suificient to enable the belt to accommodate itself to the contour of the work-piece and the possibility of the belt yielding excessively under pressure and Wrapping itself about undesired portions of the work-piece will be avoided.

These and other features of the invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation of the upper portion of the improved machine;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in side elevation of a portion of the machine illustrating its operation in channel laying; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view in detail illustrating the action of the belt in laying a channel.

The supporting structure of the machine consists of a frame or standard it adapted to rest upon the floor. Mounted upon the frame it] is a head 3?. in which are formed bearings for a shaft Hi. A pulley it which is secured to the shaft M is driven by a belt it from any suitable source of power in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1.

Formed upon the head i2 and concentric with the shaft !4 is a bearing 29 for a bracket 22. Formed in the bracket 22 is an arcuate slot 24 whichis concentric with the axis of the shaft i l. Formed upon the head it is a bearing surface 26 which engages a similar finished surface upon the bracket 22. A pair of bolts 25 extend through holes in the head if and through the slot 2% and are threaded into nuts 3%. The slot 24 is countersunk, as indicated by the reference character 32, to enable the nuts 30 to lie below the general level of the surface of the bracket 22. Each of the nuts 8% extends down into the slot 24, the extending portion being squared off on each side to fit the slot and to hold the nut from turning. The angular position of the bracket 22 about the axis of the shaft it may be varied by loosening the bolts 28, swinging the bracket to the desired position, and then tightening the bolts 28.

Secured to the bracket 22 by a pair of bolts 3 is a second bracket 36. The bolts M, which are provided with suitable washers, extend through a slot 38 formed in the bracket 3% and are threaded into the bracket 22. Formed upon the bracket 22 is a guide tongue and formed in the bracket 36 is a corresponding recess, both the tongue and the recess being indicated by the reference character 42 (Fig. 2) The guide tongue on the bracket 22 is interrupted by the slot 24; the recess in the bracket 36 is, however, continuous and bridges the slot 24. Both the slot 33 and the tongue and recess 42 are radial with respect to the axis of the shaft M. The tongue and recess 32 constitute a sliding connection to provide for radial adjustment of the bracket 36, the bolts 34 serving to clamp the bracket 36 in any desired position of radial adjustment. Secured upon the bracket 36 is a handle 44 to facilitate both the angular adjustment of the bracket 22 and the radial adjustment of the bracket 36. These adjustments enable the shoe-engaging instrumentality to be brought into a convenient operating position.

Mounted upon the outer end of the bracket 36 is a third bracket 46 in the shape of a sector. Formed in the bracket 46 is an arcuate recess 48 which slidably engages a corresponding arcuate portion 49 formed on the bracket 36. The bracket 46 is secured to the bracket 36 by bolts 50 which extend through an arcuate slot 52 formed in the bracket 46 and which are threaded into the bracket 36. The bolts 50 have nuts 5| similar to the nuts 30. The slot 52 is concentric with the arcuate recess 48 and is countersunk as indicated by the reference numeral 54 to accommodate the nuts 5|.

The machine as so far described is substantially like that disclosed in the above-mentioned patent to Bunker.

Secured upon the sector-shaped bracket 46 by bolts 56 (Figs. 2 and 3) is a pulley-supporting bracket 58. The bolts 56 extend through arcuate slots 60 formed in the sector-shaped bracket 46 to provide for angular adjustment of the pulleysupporting bracket upon the sector-shaped bracket. Extending from the upper portion of the bracket 58 are a pair of spaced ears 62 between which is rotatably mounted a pulley 64. Extending from the lower portion of the bracket 58 are a pair of spaced ears 66 between which is rotatably mounted a pulley 68. A channel laying belt I0 passes over the pulleys 64 and 68 and also around a pulley I2 secured upon the shaft I4. The belt ID of the illustrated machine is similar in all respects to the corresponding belt of the machine disclosed in the abovementioned patent to Bunker and consists of rubberized fabric, although leather may be employed as an alternative. This belt has an inner surface I4 in which are formed a plurality of parallel diagonal grooves I6. A plurality of metal rubbing members 18 extend diagonally across the working surface of the belt and have their end portions hooked around the lateral edges of the belt, the end portions of each member extending into one of the grooves I6. These rubbing members may conveniently be formed from hooks of the type usually employed for securing together the ends of power transmission belts. Their operative portions are raised upon the working surface of the belt while their ends which extend into the grooves I6 are countersunk below the inner surface of the belt and therefore do not interfere with the bearing of the belt against the various pulleys over which the belt travels and particularly against a supporting backing presently to be described.

Secured upon the pulley-supporting bracket 58 by screws is a bracket 82. The screws 80 extend through slots 84 formed in the bracket 82 and are threaded into the bracket 58. The slots 84 are directed to provide for adjustment of the bracket 82 toward and from that portion of the belt 10 which extends between the pulleys 64 and 68. Extending from the upper portion of the bracket 82 are a pair of spaced ears 86 in which is anchored the upper end of a chain 88. The lower end of the chain 88 is secured between a pair of spaced ears 90 formed on an arm 92 which is fulcrumed upon a pin 94 secured in the bracket 82. Integral with the arm 92 is an upwardly extending arm 96. A spring 98 housed in a socket I00 formed in the bracket 82 bears against the bottom of a recess in the arm 96 with a force tending to hold the chain 88 taut. The compression of the spring 98 may be adjusted by turning a plug I 02 which is threaded into the socket I00. A stop screw I04 is adjustably threaded through an ear I06 formed on the bracket 82 and is engageable with the upper end of the arm 96. In order to provide for securing the stop screw I04 in adjusted position the ear I06 is split and is provided with a clamping screw I08. The stop screw I04 may be adjusted to prevent yielding of the arm 96, thereby positively maintaining the chain 88 substantially taut; or it may be adjusted to enable flexure of the chain 88 to take place to any desired extent.

The chain 88 is composed of two sets of spaced parallel flat links I I0, each link of each set overlapping the ends of its neighboring links. Each overlapping pair of links are fulcrumed upon a crosspin II2 which serves also as a fulcrum for the two corresponding parallel overlapping links on the opposite side of the chain. Each of the crosspins II2 carries an anti-friction bushing H3 on which is journaled an anti-friction roll II 4. Every alternate roll I I4 has at its ends a pair of belt-guiding flanges I I6. It is evident that the chain 88 may flex freely in accordance with the contour of the work.

A pair of belt guards II8 are pivotally mounted upon a pin I20 carried by a rearward extension I22 of the bracket 22. Each guard at its free forward end is detachably secured by a clip I24 to one of the stationary shafts of the belt pulleys 64 and 68.

The operation of the machine is best illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein is shown a shoe S having a channel L in process of being laid by the belt 10. The chain 88, which is normally held taut by the spring 98, flexes freely under the pressure of the work and enables the belt I8 to conform automatically to the shape of that portion of the shoe bottom which is pressed against it. The spring 98 is adjusted to yield under working pressure. It will be observed that however great may be the pressure of the shoe against the belt, the

flexure of the chain 88 is limited by the stop screw I 04. The pressure of the shoe is sustained, not by the belt which stretches readily, but by the inextensible chain. The stop screw is ordinarily adjusted to prevent the chain from flexing more than is necessary to enable the belt to conform to the curvature of the workpiece at the locality of operation, although the operator, if he finds it desirable in special cases, may employ the stop screw to hold the chain positively against flexure. When the chain has yielded as far as permitted by adjustment of the stop screw it afiords a positive backing to the channel laying belt regardless of the pressure exerted through the shoe. Any danger of the belt flexing excessively and engaging the upper of the shoe is thus prevented. The belt, moreover, is relieved of excessive tension which results in rapid wear and early breakage.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A channel laying machine comprising a driven flexible tool engageable with a channel lip to lay the lip, and a relatively stationary freely flexible backing member constructed and arranged to afford positive support to said lip-laying tool against the pressure of the work.

2. A channel laying machine comprising a driven member of flexible material engageable with a channel lip to lay the lip, and a relatively stationary backing for supporting said lip laying member against the pressure of the work, said backing being concave along the direction in which the lip-laying member is driven.

3. A machine for operating upon shoe bottoms comprising a driven flexible tool, a flexible inextensible backing member in the form of a chain for supporting said tool in a shape conforming automatically under pressure to that of the shoe bottom, and supports for the ends of said chain.

4. A machine for operating upon shoe bottoms comprising a driven flexible tool, an articulated backing member for supporting said tool in a shape conforming to that of the work-piece, and a resilient support for said backing member constructed and arranged yieldingly to oppose flexure of said backing member.

5. A machine for operating upon shoe bottoms comprising a driven flexible belt, a backing member in the form of a chain for supporting said belt against the pressure of the work, supports for the ends of said chain constructed and arranged for relative approach to enable said chain to flex under pressure of the work, and a stop constructed and arranged for adjustment to limit or prevent the relative approach of said supports and thereby to limit to a desired extent or to prevent flexure of said chain.

6. A channel laying machine comprising a driven flexible belt engageable with a channel lip to lay the lip, a backing member in the form of a chain for supporting said belt in a state of curvature conforming to the curvature of the workpiece, supports for the ends of said chain constructed and arranged for relative approach to enable said chain to flex under pressure of the work, and resilient means for opposing relative approach between said chain supports.

7. A machine according to claim 6 including also a stop for limiting positively the relative approach of the chain supports, thereby limiting the extent of flexure of said chain regardless of the amount of pressure exerted by the work.

8. A machine for operating upon shoe bottoms comprising a driven flexible belt, a backing member in the form of a chain for supporting said belt in a state of curvature conforming to the curvature of the work-piece, a stationary support for one end of said chain, a pivotally mounted arm supporting the opposite end of the chain, a spring acting upon said arm to maintain tension in said chain, means for adjusting the force of said spring, and an adjustable stop engageable with said arm to limit the extent of flexure oi the chain regardless of the amount of pressure exerted by the work.

9. A channel laying machine comprising a driven flexible tool engageable with a channel lip to lay the lip, a plurality of rolls for supporting said lip laying tool against the pressure of the work with a minimum of friction, and a chain for flexibly supporting said rolls.

in. A channel laying machine comprising a driven flexible belt engageable with a channel lip to lay the lip, a plurality of rolls for support ing said lip laying tool against the pressure of the Work with a minimum of friction, and a support for said rolls constructed and arranged to enable the belt to travel in a concave path at the locality of operation.

11. A machine for operating upon shoe bottoms comprising a driven flexible belt, a backing member in the form of a chain for supporting said belt against the pressure of the Work, a plurality of rolls journaled on said chain for reducing to a minimum the friction of said belt relatively to said chain, and a support for the ends of said chain.

12. A machine according to claim 11 wherein some of the rolls are provided with belt-guiding flanges adjacent to their ends.

13. A machine for operating upon shoe bottoms comprising a driven flexible belt, a pair of pulleys supporting said belt, a bracket on which said pulleys are mounted, a support for said bracket constructed and arranged for adjustment to a convenient operating position, driving means for said belt, and a flexible anti-friction bedcarried by said bracket for supporting said belt against the pressure of the work in a state of curvature conforming to that of the shoe bottom.

14. In a machine for operating upon shoe bottoms, a driven belt adapted to operate upon shoe bottoms, a chain supporting said belt at the lo cality of operation, and a support for said chain constructed and arranged to enable said chain to flex under pressure of the work.

15. In a machine for operating upon shoes, a chain comprising two sets of spaced parallel links, a plurality of crosspins, each of said pins pivotally connecting two adjacent links of one set and also the two corresponding parallel links of the other set, an anti-friction roll on each of said pins, and radial guide flanges on the ends of some of said rolls.

16. A channel laying machine comprising a belt of flexible material engageable with a channel lip to lay the lip, and a backing constructed and arranged to flex freely along a direction lengthwise of said belt for supporting said belt against the pressure of the work.

17. A channel laying machine comprising a driven flexible tool engageable with a channel lip to lay the lip, a freely flexible backing member, and means for holding the backing member from movement in the direction of travel of the tool while permitting it to assume the concave curvature imparted to the tool by the pressure of the work against the tool.

CHARLES G. BROSTROM. 

